RISE TO ADDICTION: A New Shade Of Black For The Soul

Cover	Release	Style
	2007-05-18	groove-laden grunge metal
	Label
	www.mausoleum-records.com / www.totalconceptmanagement.com
	Website
	www.risetoaddiction.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	59:49	251092
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	8,5/10
nederlands	Review
Rise To Addiction drew my attention for the first time when they recently opened for Trouble during the European tour of these infamous Chicago doomsters. Founder members appear to be guitarists Steve Wray and John Slater. They have a common past in Blaze, the band of Blaze Bayley who once replaced Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden for a few years with precarious success. In 2004 both six-stringers decided to form their own band and when they recruited Leigh Oates as vocalist, they also got the rhythm section of his former band Ninedenine. Rise To Addiction was ready to rehearse and write songs. After a well-received EP with three songs, they started working on a first full-length album. ‘A New Shade Of Black For The Soul’ was provided – just like the EP – with a sure-fire sound by the renowned producer Andy Sneap. Rise To Addiction stands with one foot in the past (the bestial rock feel of the eighties and nineties), but they know rattling well that you have to relish this legacy of the past with modern flavours. That’s why this is not a flaw copy of earlier sounds, but steamy rock ‘n’ roll that verges to grunge in some of the songs (‘Cold Season’ and the mid-paced ‘Low’ with magnificent, soaring guitar solo), but sometimes they cut loose. With two skilful guitarists in the band we hear a lashing of eminent, wild guitar runs/soloing on the album of course. Blues elements pop up in ‘One Sweet Minute’, which has some less exciting moments as well. I really love the band when they go wild in thrash-like riffing, Metallica influences are obvious then, in the way of singing as well. Leigh Oates uses his voice in a versatile way and in ‘Moth To A Flames’ and ‘One Sweet Minute’ there are lots of effects on his voice. That the band has a huge respect for the past, is shown again in the amazing ‘Fessonia’, a sensitive ballad with a very dark edge (just call it doom!) for which Mike Garson wrote and recorded the piano outro and he once worked on ‘Aladdin Sane’ of David Bowie. The two longer tracks that occlude the album showcase the experimental side of Rise To Addiction and they make us suspect that we are only at the beginning of more albums to come with guitar-driven solid rock that will appeal to a broad audience.
Musicians
Leigh Oates: vocals Steve Wray: guitars John Slater: guitars Joel Graham: bass Aynsley Dickinson: drums
Tracklist
A New Shade (0:44) Cold Season (4:06) Moth To A Flame (5:42) Falling As One (4:18) Low (4:43) One Sweet Minute (6:55) This Ride (3:54) Everlasting Wave (6:13) I Follow (4:26) To A God Unknown (4:16) Fessonia (8:18) The Hive (6:09)
Discography


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